Acupressure Points to Induce Labor
Going past your due date is common, especially with a first baby. And the longer it drags on, the more uncomfortable it gets. Sooner or later, most women start looking for ways to nudge labor along. One option a lot of people try is acupressure, which which works on specific pressure points to get labor moving.
One catch: it only really works when your cervix is already ready for delivery. Below are the points I point people to, plus some practical tips on acupressure for bringing on labor.
Most Useful Acupoints for Bringing on Labor
Acupressure is one of the simplest, most natural ways I know to get pain relief anywhere in the body. Used for labor, these points can help things start and can make childbirth a bit easier.
Just about anyone can learn acupressure therapy once they’ve been shown how, and the points are easy to find when you need them. Used properly, acupressure doesn’t come with side effects. Please remember this, though: never use Acupressure Points to Induce Labor in the first 36 weeks of pregnancy. It can harm both mother and baby.
List of Pressure Points to Induce Labor:
- Spleen 6 Point
- Pericardium 8 Point
- Bladder 32 Point
- Bladder 67 Point
- Large Intestine 4 Point
- Kidney 1 Point
- Gallbladder 21 Point
- Liver 3 Point
- Bladder 60 Point
Once you’ve gone the full nine months, labor pains usually start on their own. Sometimes the baby arrives within a couple of hours. Sometimes it takes much longer. That’s where acupoints come in. They help with pain relief and help labor get started, and different points work in slightly different ways.
Acupressure Points to Induce Labor Infographic:
All of this can make childbirth a little safer and a little easier.
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Acupoints for Inducing Labor
Here are the pressure points most people reach for when they want to induce labor:
Spleen 6 pressure points
You’ll see this point in almost every labor guide. It sits behind the shinbone, above the ankle bone, about 4cm up the back of the leg. Press firmly with your index finger for a few seconds. Rest for 1 minute, then repeat.
The Pericardium 8 Points
This is the second point people use most for labor, and it’s right in the middle of your palm. To find it, bend your middle finger down onto your palm. The Pericardium 8 point sits between the 2nd and 3rd metacarpal bones. Press into it with your thumb for a few seconds.
Acupressure Bladder 32 Points
Bladder 32 is a handy pressure point for labor and related problems. You’ll find it on the buttocks, right at the dimple. Press firmly and work vertically up the buttock. Keep going for a few minutes. It helps bring on labor, and it’s also used for women’s gynecological infections and problems.
The Bladder 67 Acupoint
Bladder 67 sits on the little toe, the pinky toe. Look at the edge of the small toe, on the outside of the nail. Pinch it firmly between thumb and index finger, like a light pinch. It shouldn’t hurt. Working this point helps the baby move lower, which makes birth easier.
The Large Intestine 4 (LI 4) Acupoint
You’ll come across this point all the time in Acupressure Therapy. It eases aches, pains, and all sorts of discomfort. Find it in the webbing between your thumb and index finger. Press with your thumb and massage for a couple of seconds at a time, with short breaks in between.
The Kidney 1 Acupoint
I love this one for a nervous mom. It’s on the sole of the foot, in the middle of the upper part of the sole. Press firmly for a few seconds. It takes the edge off the stress during labor, and it’s also a good point for people who struggle with insomnia.
Lower Back Pain during Labor – Liver 3 Point
Back pain in labor is miserable, and Liver 3 is the point I’d try first. It’s between the big toe and the 2nd toe. Press with your thumb. Beyond back pain, this point also helps with menstrual cramps, insomnia, and anxiety.
Bladder 60 Point
Gallbladder 21 Point
Acupressure points to induce labor chart diagram
A quick word before you start
Before you press any of these acupressure points to induce labor, make sure you know what you’re doing. If you’re not sure, talk to an acupressure specialist first. Don’t just experiment on a pregnant woman.
Everything You Need to Know About Induction
Thinking about a medical induction? Go in prepared. Induction isn’t something to arrange on your own. Leave that call to your medical team. If you have high blood pressure or gestational diabetes, being induced can make labor more comfortable.
Plenty of doctors suggest induction once you’re past your due date, or once you’re more than a week overdue and just plain uncomfortable. Waiting a little after 39 weeks is often better, though. Those last weeks matter for your baby’s development.
Induction can also raise the chance of a cesarean section, especially for first-time moms. And you won’t be allowed to eat much for a couple of hours, since nausea and vomiting are common. So what does an induction actually look like?
What Can You Expect with Induced Labor
First, forget the idea that staff just hook you up to Pitocin and wait. It won’t work until your cervix is ready, and your body has to show signs it’s prepared for labor. Staff usually start with cervical ripening, placing a tiny pill (Cytotec or Misoprostol) inside the cervix. Sometimes they open things manually with a balloon catheter before any medicine.
It can take a while. The whole process, which helps start natural labor, can last all day or longer. Expect the contractions to feel more intense, too. They can last longer and hit harder because they’re being controlled. You’ll be monitored the whole time.
They’ll watch the baby closely, which means bed rest for you. If the external monitor can’t pick up your contractions, they may place an internal monitor for accurate readings. Prepare yourself mentally. It’s uncomfortable, and there’s not much to distract you from the pain.
No two women are the same, and inductions are unpredictable. One can last up to two days. If all of that has you wondering about gentler ways to get labor started at home, keep reading.
What Other Innate Ways Are There to Induce Labor
Honestly? Most childbirth experts don’t put much faith in at-home methods. Message boards are full of suggestions, from castor oil to spicy food. Do they work? Nobody can promise that, and some are still being studied. Here are the natural options people try most.
Acupuncture and Acupressure
In parts of Asia, these methods have been used for centuries to jump-start labor. A study at the University of North Carolina found that most women who received acupressure went into labor without needing medical intervention, and that most had a lower risk of an emergency cesarean section.
Have Sex
Lots of women swear sex helped get things going. Sex releases hormone-like substances that work a bit like induction medication, so it doesn’t hurt to try. Your partner does need to ejaculate inside you, since semen contains a stimulant called prostaglandins, which can lead to induced labor.
Other Methods:
The methods below get mixed reviews. Talk to your doctor or midwife before you try any of them.
- Small amounts of castor oil, usually after 38 weeks, once your body is ready. The downside? It can give you diarrhea and leave you dehydrated.
- Cohosh, an herb with plant-based chemicals similar to estrogen. It hasn’t been studied well, so be careful.
- Evening primrose oil, which has had some positive results. It softens the cervix and gets you more ready for labor.
Those are just a few of the techniques people use. None of them is proven to work.
When Should You Induce Labor After The Due Date
Labor is natural. Women have been doing this forever. A couple of days overdue is no reason to rush into an induction. Go more than a week over, though, and inducing labor can lower the risk of complications.
Most babies arrive around the 40th week. Stretch it to 42 weeks and both mother and baby can run into health problems. You might feel fine, but your baby can be affected, because the placenta may stop giving your child the nutrients they need.
The womb can also become infected, which complicates childbirth. And your baby keeps growing in there. Get too big, and a natural birth may no longer be possible, which means a C-section. It’s not all downside, though. Induction can save your baby’s life.
Another reason: your water breaks but contractions don’t start on their own. Once your membranes are broken, infection becomes a real risk. Other reasons include:
- Your placenta is no longer providing amniotic fluid for your baby to grow and survive
- You have a chronic, life-threatening illness, such as high blood pressure and diabetes
- You have had a stillbirth
Foods You Can Eat to Help Induce Labor
Can food start labor? The research is thin, I’ll be honest. Still, plenty of women say certain foods helped get natural childbirth going.
- Pineapple contains bromelain, which helps soften and stimulate the cervix. You’d have to eat a lot of it.
- Green Papaya – Raw green papaya is rich in papain and can bring on contractions.
- Black Licorice – Don’t overdo it. Too much can cause diarrhea and mild contractions.
- Garlic – A favorite for this. It stimulates the bowels and empties your stomach.
- Red Raspberry Tea – Tones and strengthens the uterus, which aids contractions. You can drink it daily from the 32nd week.
- Cumin Tea – Helps with digestive tract issues and bloating, and may aid labor induction.
- Balsamic Vinegar – Made from white grape juice. Some women say a couple of shots brought labor on.
Frequently Asked Questions About Induction
Does Walking Induce Labor?
Walking helps your baby move down toward your cervix and settle into the right position for labor. It also stimulates the uterus to release oxytocin, which supports natural childbirth.
Can stress induce labor?
Stress is hard to avoid in pregnancy, but do try to relax where you can. Anxiety can raise your risk of going into premature labor.
Can swimming induce labor?
Swimming helps your baby get into the right position for labor. It’s not recommended once you’re in the early stages of childbirth, though, because it works against gravity.
Can a massage induce labor?
Acupressure massage can help, because specific points connect to the body’s energy pathways. Working them balances the flow and supports the body’s healing. Pregnancy is a delicate time, so check with your OB/GYN before you decide anything.
Can exercise induce labor?
If your obstetrician is fine with it, light exercise or walking is usually okay in pregnancy. Walking is one of the things that might help induce labor.
Does pumping induce labor?
If you’re full-term and past your due date, a breast pump may help start labor naturally. Nipple stimulation raises your oxytocin levels and helps your body relax.
Final Thoughts
If you want to go the natural route, exercise and a healthy diet are a sensible place to start. I wouldn’t book an induction just because you’re a couple of days overdue. If you have a medical condition, though, please do this under your doctor’s supervision. None of the techniques above is proven, and if you try them, wait until you’re past full-term to avoid complications.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Jian Times
Last updated: October 22, 2026
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